Velma Funk

1930-2025

Velma Jean (Krehbiel) Funk was born December 18, 1930, to Henry P and Emma (Kaufman) Krehbiel in Cleveland, Kansas. She was the youngest of 8 children born to this union. She died at Parkside Homes on April 11, 2025.

She was baptized in the Bethany Mennonite Church, Kingman, Kansas on June 3, 1945, by Rev. E.J. Neuenschwander.

Velma grew up on a farm seven miles south of Kingman, Kansas. Velma had fond stories of living on the farm, many of which were recorded in a book written by her sister, Ruby. When Velma entered first grade, she only spoke German and learned to speak English at school. She attended first through eighth grade at Cleveland school. High school was at Kingman, Kansas, which was a few miles away. So, the weekdays were spent in Kingman, and she returned home for the weekends. Her freshman year Velma and sister Ruby had an apartment, her sophomore year Mary Lou Voran, a fellow church member, was her roommate. Her junior year she lived with her brother Gene and his wife Elsie. Her senior year was spent living with her Uncle Sandy and Aunt Elma Albrecht. After graduating from Kingman High School in 1949, Velma started her first job as a bookkeeper at Calvert Department Store in Kingman. In a few months, Bertha Krehbiel asked her to work at the Kingman State Bank.

Velma attended Bethel College from the Fall of 1951 to the Spring of 1952. She was in choir, Beta Kappa, Pep Club and Women’s Council (elected by the women of Leisy Hall). She had a part time job

answering phones for Bethel College and her roommate was Joan Schrag. When the Bethel Choir sang at Pretty Prairie Church, the bank president asked Velma to come back to work at the Kingman Bank again which she did after completing her year at Bethel.

Velma started a new job at Midland Bank in Newton, Kansas, living with a friend, Virleen Goering. Karl was visiting with Virleen when Velma was moving into the apartment, A romance was sparked and they were married November 27, 1954 at the Bethany Mennonite Church of Kingman, Kansas.

Immediately following their marriage Dad and Mom moved to Denver, Colorado where Dad served a two-year 1-W Service at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver. They lived in an apartment owned by the Rubenstein’s and Velma worked at Denver Central Bank until Kurt was born on December 18, 1955. There was no hospital charge for Kurt’s delivery because Karl was good friends with the nurses. Before Kurt was born, Karl and Velma moved to an apartment on Colfax Street because the first apartment didn’t allow children. After completing the 1W service, they moved to Karl’s childhood home, a farm 3 miles east of Hillsboro (around December 1956). Karl’s parents moved to Hillsboro at this time but continued to enjoy a large garden at the farmstead. Dad and Mom had four more children: Carla Jean, Dennis Ray, Merlin Dale and Marlene Kay.

Velma was kept very busy working full-time, helping on the farm and raising her family. Velma faithfully read bible stories to her children at bedtime, and we are so thankful for her godly example. When the children were little, she played the piano and they sang together. This was a treasured memory for her children. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren’s school events and babysitting her grandchildren. Velma worked for 26 1/2 years at Henry Loewen, DDS as a receptionist from the Fall of 1969 till she was 65 in 1995.

She was a member of the Trinity Mennonite Church serving on various committees and singing in the choir. A highlight for Mom and Dad was serving on the MCC committee and working at

the MCC Sale every April. Mom was an excellent seamstress, sewing and mending clothes for the family. Velma also had a garden and loved to tend to her flowers. We all enjoyed her amazing pies,

zwieback, cinnamon rolls and the many meals she made for her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Karl, brothers Alvin, Leonard, Marvin, Orville, Gene, and Floyd, and sister Ruby Brewer.

She is survived by Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren:

Kurt & Ruth Funk, Hillsboro, Kansas

Nathan & Wendy Funk, Hillsboro, Kansas

Khloe & Mylee

Daniel & Sidney Funk, Wichita, Kansas

Berkin, Hensley, Jeremiah

April & Tyler McKim, Red Bluff, California

Konnor & Aubrey

Tim & Tara Funk, Wichita, Kansas

Lahna